The Trendsetter

The DH, my fierce beta reader, had hammered me with this one particular question: “What made the hero attracted to the heroine?”

He had been a loyal beta reader and critic to my MS for quite sometime. Every time he critiqued the characters or the plot, it always stung; it was enough to retaliate by not cooking him a meal for a day. Mweh, I wished he could write his own novel to see how difficult it is to write fiction.

“Oh, I know that. The chemistry thing,” I said. “She’s pretty and funny.”

His eyebrows lowered giving me that salted fish look. “Oh, no, no. That’s not enough.” He wagged his finger at me. “Think again. What makes the hero attracted to the heroine? I haven’t seen it yet.”
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I have to admit. I procrastinate. My manuscript has been sitting for weeks now, waiting for me to continue writing. Not only that but I’m also far behind in updating my blog. And I blame this latest gadget I just acquired for my procrastination… The AlpaSmart word processor.

I’ve been dreaming of sitting and writing in the park this coming summer. I hated my notebook computer because there are so many games on it and I usually end up playing them when bored or ehem… an excuse to procrastinate. Then I also hate the battery for it can’t hold power much longer when I need it.

So I got myself an AlphaSmart. I wanted the older version, the one that has nothing in it but just a word processor. And when I got it, we’re inseparable. Ideas for story suddenly poured out of me from nowhere. I was like a mad writer, capturing all those story elements into this little device. Any anecdotes I got, I recorded into my AlphaSmart.

Then days went by so fast, I realize I have to return to my manuscript, or else scrap it all together and start over again. Nah…I still have plenty of time. I need to make a cute case for my new-found friend. So, I designed a small bag for the AlphaSmart so I can carry it wherever I want.

Now what?

The guilt to return to continue with my latest manuscript is unbearable, I grudgingly agreed. Luckily it’s still in its infancy stage. What I didn’t know was all the story elements I wrote in this cute little gadget had helped me to plot my manuscript in a better way. When I noticed it, my excitement returned and I’m back into the loop!

And I thought I wasted my time toying with this thing.

Happy writing!

Spring has finally sprung and it’s gorgeous outside. So, I’ll put aside my writing for a day or two and go out to enjoy the sunshine. Before I do that, I have written about how music plays an important role in my creative writing. As a writer, you write either fiction or nonfiction, you usually will use certain devices to get you in the mood to write. I use songs to get into the writing groove.

Song is one of the important device for me to induce my creative mind to put my ideas on the screen. I had blogged about it a couple of years ago and now I have several more songs to list and currently use for my next WIP (Work In Progress).

1. Kenny G’s music is still my favorite for listening whenever I need help getting into the mood for writing. So here are more of Kenny G’s music I’m currently listening: Forever In Love, Silhouette and Morning.

2. I have always admire the voice of the latest AI, David Archuletta. The song titled, You Can captured my imagination to write my current manuscript and I just love the energy he breathes through the song. I feel so inspired whenever I listen to it.

3. Songs by the post-grunge band, Nickelback titled, Far Away and Gotta Be Somebody. This song definitely helps me to write the emotional narrative for my male protagonist.

4. Endless Summer Night by Richard Marx. What can I say. I love the melody…

5. If I Ever Let You Go by Westlife. Again another great song by this band with a great lyric and tempo. It also helps me to capture great feeling I need for my male protagonist.

Like other devices, such as drinking coffee a little too much, constantly going to the kitchen to look for food in the refrigerator (hey! that’s me!) or going to the café around the corner and sit for hours to write, listening to your favorite songs definitely does the trick.

So, happy listenin’ and happy writin’.

I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to feast on one of my favorite thing to do: reading novels. I was deprived for quite some time after getting so engrossed in revising my manuscript. Now that the revision is almost complete, all I need is a little break to curl in the sofa with a book. I’m looking forward to be entertained, to be whisked away and to be swept into the hero and heroine’s world of conflict; and in the end presented with a happy ending when the main characters get together and live happily ever after.

And read I did. So far I’ve read several since last month. Among them were:

However, this time, I found something different in my reading. At first it was subtle so I hardly noticed it. Then it became apparent. I wasn’t reading for pleasure anymore, but to read each novel with a critical mind. Hmm… I began to notice the main characters’ viewpoint, analyzing if the heroine was dynamic enough to carry the plot forward and checking if the beats were appropriate following the dialogues. And I lingered to examine the novel’s structures—its scenes and narratives. And the descriptions, too.

Gah… reading novels is not fun anymore!

So, what about you? If you read novels as a reader you’re looking for entertainment—depending on the genre of course. And if you’re a writer, the chance is you read it for pleasure as well as feeding your creative mind so you can write or improve your own manuscript.

And now that my purpose to read novels has been extended, the genre I’m seeking also expands. This time I need to read something more serious, I want something to make me think and to rattle me emotionally.

And the novel titled, “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Mohsin Hamid just did this trick. After I finished reading it, I felt melancholic, depressed even for a day before returning to normal the next day. The novel is filled with metaphors, the theme is larger than life and I couldn’t help but noticing that the novel is indeed character driven rather than plot driven.

So, I returned to my writing and like a miracle, I see my manuscript in a different perspective. Immediately, I am ready for the next revision—with a fresh mind.

…And the replies trickled in… …rejection, rejection and more rejection. The anti-gray men’s hair TV commercial with the nasty buzzer kept playing over and over in my mind - REJECTED!

Then the next few emails asked for a partial. What? Are they serious? Yipeee!!!

Well, until I get a request for a full, I’m not so over it. And the waiting game goes on…

So that is pretty much what is happening in the land of writing. I’m used to hearing the word “rejected” considering my day job that deals with customers. In my early years in my handmade bag business, I came face to face with customers who see my beautiful handbags, touched them; slung them over their shoulders only to say right to my face, “This is easy. I can make this myself.” Next, “Eww, it’s not, that good,” and flung it back at me. My face turned red like a cooked shrimp. I wished I could be invisible and be like that other TV commercial that says, “Want to get away?…”
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